MERRY CHRISTMAS! Final Update of the decade! by Service Dealer Editor, Steve Gibbs
It's the last Service Dealer Weekly Update before the Christmas break today - and we have a game you can play, to be in with the chance of winning a Breville 2 Litre Variable Hot Water Dispenser with 3 KW Fast Boil!
Today's is the final Service Dealer Update before the Christmas break.
Hopefully most of you will be preparing to wind down, at least for a short while, so I'll keep it on the brief side today.
We'll be back in your inbox, lunchtime on Friday 3rd January 2020. By that time you should have also received the first issue of Service Dealer magazine of the new decade.
It's a great issue to kick off with, looking back with delight, on a very successful Service Dealer Conference & Awards. There's plenty more to read as well with reports from the autumn's major agricultural and groundscare exhibitions, a profile of an industry stalwart, training and education news and all the regular features.
Also for 2020, we welcome a new diarist who will be chronicling the course of the season at their dealership for our readers. Pete McArthur, along with wife Emma, will be keeping us updated throughout the year about what issues are affecting their business at Strathbogie Forest & Garden. With Pete and Emma coming on board, I am so pleased that we have been able to continue our geographical spread of diarists for the new year - following on from Emyr in Carmarthenshire and Chris and Rebecca in Buckinghamshire.
On that note, I'd like to thank the guys at Briants for their fantastic contributions this past year. It has been an absolute pleasure working alongside them and fascinating to read their illuminating and candid entries each issue.
As ever, it's been a privilege to bring you all the news each Friday in this Update and in-depth features every other month in the magazine. So from myself and all the team at TAP, thanks to all our readers and our commercial partners for your continued support. It is very much appreciated.
I'll leave you today with what's become a bit of a tradition these past few years - a Christmas game from the clever people in our office, where you can win a top prize!
This year's game is actually the same one as last year. Apparently more people played that one than any previous time-waster. There's a different prize on offer this year though - it's a (deep breath) Breville 2 Litre Variable Hot Water Dispenser with 3 KW Fast Boil! Goodness me!
Despite it being the same game at last year, I still found it as annoyingly difficult. Which is more a reflection of my ability to play internet games rather than any sort of design fault. Anyway, once you reach 12 points, no doubt quicker than I can, you can enter the draw to win the quick boiler. The winner will be picked and announced on Twitter on 06/01/20.
This week's WEB ONLY story is that John Deere agricultural and turf dealer Thomas Sherriff & Co Ltd, whose headquarters are based at Haddington in East Lothian, has bought the professional turf business of Greenlay Ltd in Cramlington, south Northumberland.
Adrian Langmead, business development manager and Tom Dunlop, dealer manager are retiring while Tim Yates, existing product and key account manager, is promoted to business development manager.
Kubota (U.K) Ltd has announced changes to the leadership of its groundcare business division.
Adrian Langmead, business development manager and Tom Dunlop, dealer manager are retiring while Tim Yates, existing product and key account manager, is promoted to business development manager.
Adrian Langmead has developed his career at Kubota UK, beginning as a service engineer in August 1986. He has spent 33 years in roles across the business including; service manager, dealer development manager, sales manager, led the Parts and Service department and finished his Kubota career as business development manager for groundcare in 2019.
Tom Dunlop similarly invested a significant time at Kubota UK, for 38 years no less. Tom began his career at the company as regional manager for Scotland, North of England and Northern and Republic of Ireland. Since then, Tom has since taken responsibility for additional regions including North Wales and Iceland.
In his new role, Tim Yates will lead the sales, admin and purchasing team to fully support Kubota UK’s dealer partners and continue to develop the groundcare division, taking over from where Adrian left off. Tim has spent more than 20 years at Kubota UK, having joined the company as Sales Administrator in 1999.
Tim Yates
On his new appointment, Tim Yates said, “We’re incredibly sad to see Adrian and Tom leave the business, both have been an inspiration to everyone working alongside them in the groundcare division. However, I am really excited to be promoted into this role and start planning ahead to 2020 and beyond. I will have a keen eye on changing market trends and I’m looking forward to working with Kubota’s engineering teams to help them produce best in class products to meet current and future demand.”
David Hart, managing director of Kubota UK added, “It is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to Adrian and Tom, after very long and impressive careers at Kubota UK, and we wish them both a very happy retirement. We are delighted to promote Tim into this new leadership role within the groundcare division. We’re passionate about investing in our people and believe that Tim’s expertise and industry knowledge, gained over the past 20 years, will be instrumental to Kubota’s growth in the groundcare sector.”
As an end of term treat, today you can watch comedian and Dealer of The Year host Charlie Baker's cheeky interview with Service Dealer - as well enjoy a highlights reel of this year's Conference & Awards.
To help everyone get into the wind down, festive, jolly spirit, today we're very pleased to share our interview video with comedian and Dealer of the Year Awards host, Charlie Baker.
Courtesy of the Service Dealer YouTube channel, below you can watch Charlie chat with Jenni Green about what he enjoys about hosting the awards and why he and Service Dealer owner Duncan Murray-Clarke are actually like a couple of 1980s businessmen!
Also today for your viewing pleasure, Service Dealer's very own Ollie Belt has cut together a superb highlights reel of the full day's events.
If you head over to Service Dealer's YouTube channel you can catch up with all the category winners presentation videos from the Dealer Of The Year Awards, as well as the individual awards for Star of the Dealership, Apprentice of the Year and Outstanding Contribution. Also available on there are video chats with dealers who attended plus our archive of previous clips.
A brand new zone will focus on key technological advances and the role they might play in the future of farming when LAMMA returns to the NEC in January.
A brand new zone will focus on key technological advances and the role they might play in the future of farming when LAMMA returns to the NEC in January.
Organisers say the Farming 4.0 zone will feature a wide range of companies involved in the development of these technologies and their successful implementation and uptake.
LAMMA says the initiative comes at a time when many farmers are grappling with a range of problems that new technology can help solve. For example, identifying and treating crop plants and weeds individually to ensure optimum use of plant protection products and fertilisers is good for the pocket and the environment. Such targeted use could also help preserve many products currently under threat from resistance or legislation.
Better use of AI to predict crop and livestock problems much earlier than is currently possible, and to help plan production cycles and predict yields much more accurately, have obvious input and marketing benefits.
Robotics will augment and could even replace heavy machinery fleets, helping to reduce soil compaction and dramatically cutting crop establishment costs as well as helping to deliver a more targeted farming approach.
Farming 4.0 will also cover some of the key areas required to help ensure great ideas can be turned into commercial successes. For example, facilitating the link between entrepreneurs with industry contacts, or implementing appropriate training programmes for existing workforces and attracted new and skilled talent into the agricultural engineering sector, will be vital in driving this technology forward.
A range of leading speakers will help to throw more light on some of these key areas on both days of the LAMMA event.
To see a full list of Farming 4.0 zone participants, click here.
In the build up to January's BTME, visitors have the ability to stay up to date with all developments by downloading the show's app.
In the build up to January's BTME, visitors have the ability to stay up to date with all developments by downloading the show's app.
The show's organisers, BIGGA, say the BTME 2020 App allows visitors to discover all they need to know about BTME and Continue to Learn 2020.
Providing a full list of exhibitors, educational sessions and speakers, BIGGA says the app will be regularly updated. It can be used to plan a visit and create an individual favourites list of exhibitors and events.
Organisers say benefits of the app include:
Find your way around the exhibition halls with the app-maps
See the education sessions and seminars and build your own schedule
Find speaker profiles of the turf industries top professionals
Find details of all the exhibitors and their products and get their contact details
Get notifications and the chance to win spot prizes
Visitors can download the app prior to the event - once the app is downloaded, no internet connection is required.
Claas has announced a slight rise in sales to €3.898 billion in its financial year to the end of September, despite what they describe as an "increasingly negative market environment" and having expected a drop in income.
Claas have announced that they recorded a slight year-on-year rise in sales at €3.898 billion (prior year: €3.889 billion).
Income before taxes fell to €136 million (prior year: €226 million).
The Axion 900 Terra Trac was launched this year
Thomas Böck, CEO of the Claas Group said, “Claas recorded stable development in an increasingly negative market environment. Despite the anticipated drop in income, we kept the company on course and systematically invested in the further digitalisation and the expansion of our market positions."
The company reported a significant rise in sales in France and the rest of western Europe. In eastern Europe, they say core business continued to develop well, while sales in Germany fell as a result of weather conditions. Outside Europe, the situation was described as mixed, with overall sales down year on year.
Claas say that this year has seen a new record investment of €244 million in R&D, in addition to a number of major product launches, including the new Generation 2 Lexion combine range, the Axion 900 Terra Trac and the new top-of-the-range Jaguar 990 - plus a €125 million investment in property, plant and equipment.
Looking forward, the manufacturer says they expect the global market to be stable, despite regional uncertainties, and expects a further slight rise in sales and stable income. However, it does not rule out the negative effect that simmering international trade conflicts and the risk that a further economic slow down could have on sales.
Organisers say several new features are in the pipeline for next year including a grain trading marquee, young farmers programme and technology demo ring.
Organisers say Cereals 2020 is rapidly taking shape, with several new features in the pipeline including a grain trading marquee, young farmers programme and technology demo ring.
Despite the difficult autumn, 100% of the exhibitor crop plots at the Cambridgeshire site were drilled and growing away by the end of October, and visitors will be able to see a full range of approved and candidate varieties in the new Choice Cereals plots.
“The site is on free draining land and the grass for the Cereals Event has established extremely well - the whole area looks a picture,” says host farmer Robert Law.
With a larger dedicated team, who have been working closely alongside the industry to increase the technical content and relevance of the event, according to event director Alli McEntyre, 2020 is set to be a game-changer. “Feedback from this year’s event was extremely positive - despite the appalling weather - with visitors awarding the overall event a score of 87%. But we want to evolve the show and make it the best it can be.”
New features for next year include a young farmers’ programme with a focus on sustainable businesses and a demonstration area for robotics and new technologies. There will also be a Grain Exchange for fresh ideas from grain marketing companies, an improved event layout and more crop plots featuring leading and award-winning varieties.
“The overarching theme of Cereals 2020 is ‘Sustainable Solutions’ and we promise to deliver that - covering everything from practical farming and financial advice to climate change and political issues,” says Ms McEntyre.
The Cereals Event will be held on 10-11 June 2020 at Chrishall Grange, Duxford, Cambridgeshire.
The company which owns and operates 14 Country Clubs across the UK, has praised the machines' use, especially in wet conditions.
The Club Company, which owns and operates 14 Country Clubs across the UK, has taken delivery of a further Ventrac 4500 compact tractor with Contour mowing deck and blower attachments. This latest combination has been delivered to Woodbury Park Hotel, Golf and Leisure near Exeter and brings the total of Ventrac machines within the group to four.
A Ventrac with Turbine Blower at The Tytherington
Chris Brook is the group courses manager, with responsibility for all greenkeeping activities across the company. He is also the course manager at the company’s flagship property, Castle Royle Golf and Country Club near Reading.
“We already have three Ventracs across the group and they have performed exceptionally well,” he said. “They are brilliant in wet conditions as they only generate 6 psi and can get out onto the course when other equipment would seriously damage the surfaces. This Ventrac at Woodbury Park is our fourth within the group, the other three being at Nizels Golf and Country Club in Kent, The Club at Meyrick Park in Bournemouth and The Tytherington near Macclesfield.
“I was quite sceptical when the machine arrived for a demonstration at Castle Royle back in 2017, but was pleasantly surprised, and delighted, at the machine’s capabilities. Considering it is under 25hp it is remarkably powerful and can go anywhere.”
The third machine in the group was delivered to The Tytherington in 2018, where the golf course was constructed using clay spoil from the building of the housing estate back in the 1960s. The underlying clay profile can be quite wet during the winter months and difficult to maintain.
Course Manager Gareth Tucker is in his second spell with the group. He was Deputy Course Manager in 2015 before taking up the post of Course Manager at Glossop; two years later he returned in his current role.
“This is an exceptional machine combination,” he said. “Unlike some parts of the country, we had a very wet summer and it has continued into the autumn. This has created some challenges for the greenkeeping team, but the Ventrac has got us out of jail on many occasions. With its minimal ground pressure it can go out in all weather."
Continental has announced it will support its agricultural tyres with a new warranty.
Continental has announced it will support its agricultural tyres with a new warranty.
The company says the warranty will cover farmers in the event of a materials or manufacturing failure and also offers some reassurance against stubble damage and field hazards.
In a statement, Continental said it is offering warranties of up to ten years on all tyres made at the company’s manufacturing plant in Lousado, Portugal. The plant has been producing a new range of agricultural tyres since 2017 and includes a purpose-built research and development unit where the tyres have been developed and tested. The warranty will therefore cover all tyres manufactured since August 1st, 2017.
Common complaints with all agricultural tyres include unforeseen damage caused by field use and imperfections in the composition of the tyre. Richard Hutchins, Continental UK sales manager said, “Modern farming techniques demand that tyres are hard wearing, and farmers can’t afford to lose time through tyres failing. Our new range of agricultural tyres has been tested to much higher tolerances than ever before and we are confident to support this by offering our customers a warranty.”
The warranty covers the likely causes of tyre damage, from material and manufacturing defects to stubble damage and field hazard damage. “It is important that as part of our return to, and growth in, the agricultural market that farmers can trust our products. By offering a warranty we are giving farmers the peace of mind they need,” explained Richard.
The warranty will cover all Continental TractorMaster and CombineMaster tyres including the recently launched very high flexion tyres and hybrid tyres. “Continental has invested €2.5 million in an agriculture-focussed research and evaluation centre to develop tyres that help meet these concerns. We hope that this warranty shows farmers that we believe in that research and that we are willing to help buyers if a tyre does not perform the way they need it to,” concluded Richard.
Martin Payne has moved from a dealership to work for a tractor manufacturer to support other dealers as they develop their businesses.
Having successfully helped a south-west farm machinery dealership expand and more than double its sales turnover, Martin Payne has joined a tractor manufacturer to support other dealers as they develop their businesses.
Martin Payne
In his new role as area sales manager for Landini and McCormick tractors across southern England, Martin will provide the technical, features and performance information his dealers need to help their customers select the most appropriate tractor power and specifications for the their farming and contracting businesses.
He joins the Argo Tractors UK & Ireland team at a time when the Italian manufacturer has embarked on a programme of dealer recruitment while rolling out a suite of digital dealer support tools.
“During my 10 years working in retail sales at a very typical agricultural dealership, the business grew from one to three branches and the value of tractors and machinery sold increased more than two-fold,” he says.
“Now, I’m enjoying the fresh challenges and opportunities that come with working for a major tractor manufacturer in support of their dealers across southern England.”
Martin's southern England territory, which extends from Cornwall to Kent, provides plenty of variety, with both McCormick and Landini dealers providing wide coverage in the area and an opportunity to promote the full range of products across all sectors - arable, livestock and fruit.
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